Familiarity can hinder breakthrough By Ivan Ho 1 May 2015 Most modern churches, when they get to certain size, tend to put people into groups according to their age, background, interests and so on, and call them “life groups” or “cell groups”. Some groups have the same people of similar backgrounds and life experiences meet together for years and years, and become so strongly bonded that they become strong “clicks”. They become so at home and familiar with each other. Little do they know, gradually they have also boxed themselves in over time, forming opinions on each other within the group, and confining others to those familiar rolls according to how they grow up seeing each other. Subconsciously, they even put a tag on you that says: “so and so, a pastor” or however they cast you. They expect you to behave like a pastor for...

Dividing soul and spirit By Ivan Ho First written 26 June 2015 Some of us confuse the soul with the spirit. What touches our soul is not necessarily what resonates in our spirit. Listening to music, watching a movie, talking to someone etc can touch our soul, but only the Spirit of God can prosper your spirit man, and mine. Jesus says: “My words are spirit and life”. Some messages we hear only appeal to our soul but do not benefit our spirit. However, the word of God, when spoken, penetrates deep into our soul as well as our spirit. The word of God is sharper than a double edged sword. It divides the soul and the spirit. Hebrews 4:12 What touches our soul is not necessarily wrong. In fact, our soul needs to prosper and to be ministered to. What is wrong is when the things that influence our soul contradict with the Spirit of God, or the word of God. When the...

Working of God’s grace By Ivan Ho First written 26 June 2015 Paul says: “But by the grace of God, I am what I am…“ (1 Corinthians 15:10) We are who we are by the grace of God, if we allow God’s grace to work in our life. Before Paul encountered Christ, his name was Saul, a totally different man. He was a well learned man going around persecuting followers of Christ until one day Jesus appeared to him saying: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9: 3-5) Since then, his life was totally transformed when he became Paul the apostle preaching the gospel of Christ. The working of God’s grace changed him into a totally different person. Many people, though they have accepted Christ, still prefer to be the person they used to be. That is where they feel “more comfortable, more at home, more happy”. They...

Woman at the well, why? Why not? By Ivan Ho First written 20 Jun 2015 Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well 1. The woman wasn’t a man. 2. The woman wasn’t Jewish, didn’t have the same D N A. 3. The woman wasn’t religious, wasn’t a church goer. 4. The woman wasn’t a leader, didn’t have any achievements of note. 5. The woman had a checkered history, have had many husbands in the past. 6. The woman wasn’t under authority, probably didn’t know what authority meant. So, of all people, why did Jesus choose to speak to her? 7. The woman had one quality that many don’t have: When Jesus asked her to fetch him a drink, she RESPONDED!